"FCC fine prompts Clear Channel to drop Howard Stern


By JONATHAN D. SALANT
The Associated Press
4/8/04 7:32 PM


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's largest radio chain dropped the country's best-known shock jock Thursday after federal regulators proposed fining it $495,000 for sexually explicit material on the Howard Stern show.

As part of its stepped-up enforcement of indecency regulations, a unanimous Federal Communications Commission fined Clear Channel Communications the maximum $27,500 for each of 18 alleged violations. Regulators departed from their norm by citing Clear Channel for multiple violations in a single broadcast rather than simply issuing a single fine for an entire show.

John Hogan, president of Clear Channel Radio, said the government's crackdown on indecency has gotten his company's attention.

"Mr. Stern's show has created a great liability for us and other broadcasters who air it," said Hogan, who suspended Stern in February from the six Clear Channel stations that carried him. "The Congress and the FCC are even beginning to look at revoking station licenses. That's a risk we're just not willing to take."

Clear Channel has 30 days to contest the fine. The company last month agreed to pay a record $755,000 indecency fine for broadcasts by the disc jockey known as "Bubba the Love Sponge," who was fired. "

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censorship censorship censorship

"The Congress and the FCC are even beginning to look at revoking station licenses. That's a risk we're just not willing to take."

I personally would like to see that happen. I can't stand Clear Channel anyways, would be funny for then to loose a few of their stations

This country is starting to suck.

Seems like Shrub Jr is gonna lose this election this year.

Oh my, what a horrible country this is if it won't allow a filth-meister like Stern on public airwaves. NOT.

Yes, Stern has a lot of listeners. But there are more people in this country who would rather not have that sort of fare on the radio dial. Obscenity? Yes, we know it when we see it.

JLBR... this hurts Bush not a bit. Politically, it is a plus. Why? 64% of Americans are dissatisfied with America's moral/ethical climate, according to Gallup polling. Also Gallup has recorded a jump in the number of Americans questioning Roe v. Wade. In 1995, 33% of those polled identified themselves as pro-life. The latest numbers show 46% identify themselves as pro-life. And you think more people will now identify with Stern's brand of "entertainment"? Sorry, man. America is shifting to the conservative point of view. This does not bode well for liberals and foul-mouthed radio personalities. Deal with it.

autodidact, why don't you just tell ME what should be allowed on the air and what should not.

I am handing YOU the damn remote. YOU decide for the rest of us what is moral and ethical and what is not.

Oh, that won't work either... I keep forgeting that most of you who think censorship is a good thing for America don't know how to turn the damn channel.

Shmoo

For the record, I don't like Stern, but, the most important thing about defending freedom of speech is defending the ability of people who say things I don't like, to say it. I have little use for the sexual themes of his shows, or his views on a lot of things...but, even if he were a Nazi, and spouting anti-Jewish themes, and I am half Jewish, I would defend his right to spout the garbage. As much as I hate the crap Cary Sherman says, I support his right to say it.

yes now we can have the kids of this nation watching the peaceful news, sports, and t.v. and not worry about howard stern anymore. FUCK THE FCC.

I wanna see about Stern getting on through winamp, does anybody have his official website?

This is complete and utter dogshit.

Unfortunately, the light at the end of the election tunnel may be a big MF'n freight train.

Replacing Bush's skull-and-bones cronies with Kerry's may change very little, especially when noting that the House and Senate and Supreme Court are still chock-full of neocons and Republicans.

This "conservative shift" is more dogshit. It's Moral Majority claptrap perpetrated by hypocritical right-wing ultra-conservative NUTJOBS that would have us all live like the Amish or the Jehovah's Witlesses or Mor(m)ons, while they power grab and pedophile and philander their way into key positions of power.

That's why we are supposed to SEPARATE church and state. Hello?

I HATE THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The way Bush handled his reasons for Iraq proves that he should have been kicked out of office, not to mention restricted from even running in this election.

For the love of crap. this madness had to end. Why should we lose our rights because of a few soccer moms? If you don't want your kids listening to Howard Stern. Don't let them listen. If you don't want your kids to play Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Then don't buy it for them. The U.S. is getting lazy. There has is and always has been a censor in our homes. We call the parents. Those censors rather have the government do their job as censors and look at what is happening. We lose our freedom of speech. I'm getting sick of living in this country. We have to do something or the United States of America will no longer be the land of the free. This madness has to stop. Parents must take control of their childrens lives. Parents must know what their children can listen, watch or play and what th should not until they are at the right age. I think it's time for Bush to stop stuffing his Christian beliefs down our throats. I go to church and I may be against gay weddings, but I don't want Bush's beliefs shoved down their throats. I don't want laws to ban gay marriages. I believe that spreading the word of God and prayer will do the trick. If someone doesn't hears a sermon from a pastor and doesn't want to give his life to God. Then we pray for him and hope he accepts Jesus Christ as his savior. That is my personal beliefs right there.

I know what it is like to have someone's beliefs shoved down my throat. It was one of the many reasons that I quit the Boy Scouts.

In order for Freedom of Speech to be a reality, it must protect that which we find most offensive.

No offense guys but u need to get out of the US. That country is gonna suck big time in no time...

"Replacing Bush's skull-and-bones cronies with Kerry's may change very little, especially when noting that the House and Senate and Supreme Court are still chock-full of neocons and Republicans."

Didn´t u know Kerry is a skull-and-bones also? That election is gonna be between a rock and a hard place. Despite some minor differences, the two candidates act similarly.

God help u americans... and i mean it.

I'm not worried about this stern thing at all. As soon as elections are over, they are gonna stop worrying about what the idiot bible-thumpers tell us should and shouldnt be aired and stern will be allowed back.

you know what's funny - did any of you guys see that Simpsons halloween episode where the two aliens kidnapped clinton and bob dole right before the election. Its funny to see that we're in the same predicament as the dialoge goes between the aliens and people of springfield goes "IT WON'T MATTER WHAT YOU VOTE - YOU'LL STILL BE SLAVES TO US"
"Oh yeah will I'll vote for a third party"
"SURE GO AHEAD! THROW YOUR VOTE AWAY!!"
Its too bad that most of us think that.

Told ya this is political correcteness run amok the FCC is trying to turn back the clock to a time of before thanks to you know who at the super bowl thats all she's gonna be remembered with and our constitution to which most of us hold dear is torn to shreds because there are people who think they know whats better for the rest of us it's cencorship at it's most worst.

Air waves are public property leased out. The government should not allow anything out on the airwaves that would not be tolerated under any workplace rules. Cable, the internet and other venues are available for that kind of crap. Do those who are mad at this ruling support XXX hardcore porn on public channels like NBC? If you do, interesting. In not, then how do we decide where the line should be?

Republicans need to return to our core beliefs. Keep the government out of business and every ones lives. We the people should not have to pay for other people, we work hard for our money, i do not believe in the hand out system. Welfare needs to be revoked and unemployement needs to be severely rewritten to stop abuse.

Foreign aid also needs to stop, if we kept that money that we give to other countries for no reason we would be fine. The rest of the world might fail with out our hand outs but thats their own doing.

And i believe all united state business operations that out source should have severe punishment for it in the form of tariffs, tax increases, taxing of their out of country operations etc etc. While American businesses that support America should be given breaks from the money that is demanded from the out sourcers.

Darkened:
Outsourcing is GOOD for American business. Go to www.townhall.com and check out Bruce Bartlett's coulumns. Protectionism is a Liberal device that only hurts business and drives up prices as well as reducing quality. Otherwise, I wholeheartedly agree. We also need to seal our borders and deport all illegals that aren't working and paying taxes. Including all the ones in prisons.

I disagree with Stern on nearly everything and would not mind if he was taken off the air (regardless of the fact we don't get him here - local radio is better). However, he does deserve his right to say it.

I'm a conservative, but I have to take Kerry's side over Bush with regards to outsourcing. However, if outsourcing does lead to more American jobs in the future, I will admit that I am wrong. Pat Buchanan (conservative) also says the same thing, so maybe it's not so much a liberal - conservative issue.

ok heres my outlook on this situation i think that you should be able to do just about anything but then you have parents that blame it on the media thats were this whole mess comes from trhe thing is if parents could actualy teach there kids then there would be no need for censorship

I hear you, Medwardl. Too many parents put TV's or stereo systems in their kids bedrooms and close the doors. Parents need to tell their kids what is out there, but monitor and discuss what their kids are watching and listening to. You can't shield them from the world. You have to teach them how to live in it.

As I said in another thread, for a long time Americans have been too bloody lazy, expecting someone else to do their parenting for them. Whether it's the TV, the radio, the gameboy, or the government, people have got to stop expecting someone else to raise their kids for them. They must start taking the time and putting forth the effort to know what their kids are doing, what they're listening to, what they're watching, etc. I'm the father of three girls. I know what my kids are into. I know what they watch, what they listen to, who they spend time with, what they read, what they like and dislike. I walk the walk. I can guarantee you, the results are worth the investment.

slannerd1, I agree. I wish someone would address your challenge.

Surely I agree that many parents are too lazy. Restricting content on public broadcast radio and TV is not the whole answer. But it would be a help to parents. A small but not insignificant help.

I believe Howard Stern should be able to say anything on radio about any political topic he wants, if he will discuss it in a manner that does not involve racial slurs, profanity, and vulgarity. It is not necessary to get a point across. If you cannot make a point without using language that would not embarrass your grandmother, then you cannot make a point.

In the history of America, in the history of the world, there has never been so much XXX material, sexually explicit pop music, and print material available for people to purchase online or in retail programs. You complain about censorship at a time when there has never been so little of it. I gotta say, it is puzzling.

"Do those who are mad at this ruling support XXX hardcore porn on public channels like NBC?"

...I do, and they can follow it with the KKK happy hour with Mr. Rogers neighborhood immediately afterwards.
If you think I am just being funny and cute you are wrong. I am serious. Anything and EVERYTHING should be available on the public airways. It is up to the individual to decide what they and their family want to be an audience to.

Support censorship (even of stuff you find offensive) and you support oppression. If you don't want your freedoms anymore, defect, and move to North Korea or some other dictatorship where they will be happy to tell you what to think and feel.

You have the "right" to say you are an upstanding American because you support censoring the offensive stuff, but I also have a "right" (and would be correct) to call you a liar.

Shmoo

Honestly, I'm tired of 60 yr/old men/women telling me what I can or cannot watch or hear on TV/Radio. My morals are set by me and only me. If I don't like it, I'll change the channel

I agree mmnuc3 the people who are telling us what is moral and immoral on public radio and TV haven't been spending enough time in public or they would know that on a daily basis the things they ban on the airwaves and much worse are said in public anyway.

If you don't think things "vulgar" things are said in public all the time the you don't live in this reality.

Broadcast channel, audio and video, are granted licensed bandwidth by the federal government which considers the airwaves to be owned by the public. (Quit laughin' and keep readin'). Because the airwaves are licensed, the license can be revoked and awarded to another party. I believe that's been done only once nationwide though I could be wrong. It is because of this public ownership that the government insists on programming suitable for the entire family, whatever that may mean. This is all because there is a limited amount of useable frequency range. Cable and Satellite systems don't have that limitation and are not subject to such regulations.

Clear Channel has been threatened with possible loss of stations over Stern. Hate them or not, what other business decision could they make? The FCC is also looking into Howard's home company (whose name eludes me at the moment). The reason this started with Clear Channel is because it was their stations which had complaints filed against them with the FCC for the content of Howard Stern's show. This is only beginning and the situation with Clear Channel is only a shot across the bow.